My fears don’t align with Rose’s. Maybe because I’ve never been ambitious, had larger than life aspirations. I can’t see things that my kid may take from me because there is nothing for Maximoff to take.
Connor lets Sadie down, and she sprints out the doorway. I watch him clasp Rose’s hand in his. “You will not lose anything that you can’t gain,” he says. “You make sacrifices every day for your sisters. You just made one today, darling.” He’s talking about giving up the bedroom. “And in the end, those sacrifices are worth the love you’ll receive.”
“Says the man who used to scorn love,” she retorts.
His mouth curves in a grin. “And I never wanted a child because of love, not until I fell in love with you.”
What? I cut in, “Why the hell would you want a kid then?”
Rose sighs like she’s expelling her fears. “Because he’s completely egotistical and likes the idea of procreating for power.”
Connor’s grin overtakes his face. He kisses her forehead and adds, “We’re already one-eighth Cobalt empire, darling. Seven more to go.”
She punctures him with her stare. “That is yet to be determined. Don’t finish the book before it’s written, Richard.”
Loud noises suddenly emanate from across the hallway. I frown. “What was that?” We all go quiet, listening harder.
Muffled screaming…and shouting.
Lily springs off the mattress. “They’re fighting,” she says in alarm, rushing out into the hallway. Rose is quick behind, more curious than scared like my girlfriend.
Lily is way too invested in Ryke and Daisy’s relationship, and I’m partly praying they stay together just to dodge the emotional fallout that’ll happen from Lily.
Connor and I follow the girls by walking instead of hysterically sprinting and bouncing down the hallway. By the time we reach Ryke and Daisy’s room, Rose and Lily already have their ears pressed against the wooden door.
“They’re nosy as hell,” I mutter, and both the girls shush me. It’s not like we can’t hear them just by standing here.
“Stop being so pushy about it!” Daisy yells.
Her raised voice actually cuts me up in ways that I can’t process. I’ve never heard her shout like that. I grit my teeth, a weird part of me wanting to throttle my own brother. The larger part trusts him fully, and I rely on that to keep me grounded here.
Connor casually leans his shoulder against the wall. “We knew this was going to happen,” he reminds me.
Still, it feels worse than I imagined.
“It’s a simple fucking fact, Dais,” Ryke retorts. “You don’t want to go, so you don’t fucking go. Done.”
“Great theory,” she says heatedly. “So if I don’t want to go get my bike checked tomorrow, it’s fine. I don’t have to fucking go.”
“Your bike is fucked up. It has to get fixed.”
“Theory disproven then.”
Ryke growls in agitation.
Lily’s eyes are as wide as saucers, and I see her reach out for the doorknob like she’s going to intervene. I swiftly jog over to her and clasp her wrist.
“Lo,” she whispers like we have to do something.
“All couples fight,” I remind her.
She can’t respond because Ryke’s voice grows louder. “That’s not what this is about! And you fucking know it!” I’ve been on the receiving end of Ryke’s aggressive “tough-love” behavior, and it’s not always fun. Daisy’s hard to communicate with though, so I have no clue who’s in the right or the wrong here.
“That sounds bad,” Lily breathes, and with my hand on her wrist, I feel her pulse racing. Her sex addiction has harmed Daisy’s life in significant, irreversible ways, and Lily is holding onto this one good thing that Daisy has.
While I love my brother, Daisy can exist without him and still function and find happiness. They’re not us—too codependent—and I thank God, Fate, whatever powers that be, for that.
“Shhh,” Rose says, listening again.
We all quiet to the sound of a violent banging, from a body into a piece of furniture. I freeze and hear the proceeding sounds: a high-pitched cry from Daisy. “Ahhhhh! Ryke, Ryke!”
Shit. I internally cringe at her sex noises.
And then a deep grunt filters through the door. Both Lily and Rose back up from the wood like it electrocuted them.
I give Lily a look like does that really sound bad? To me, yeah, it’s not what I’d want to fall asleep to, but it’s better than yelling.